Facebook has found itself back in the dock over its privacy standards after 25,000 users combined to file a class action lawsuit alleging violation of EU privacy laws. Austrian data protection campaigner Max Schrems is leading a legal challenge against the social media giant in Europe over the way the Web site collects and then forwards data about its members, as well as the manner in which users are monitored when they use a "like" button.

The French media group Vivendi has firmly denied that it is considering a takeover bid for Sky, leaving open the question of how it will use its multibillion-euro war chest as it prepares for a crunch meeting with investors next week. As well as the denial from Vivendi -- which is in the midst of a battle with an activist shareholder -- talk of a combination of its own pay-TV operation, Canal Plus, and Sky drew scepticism from analysts. Assuming a 20pc premium, the British company would cost more than GBP26bn.

WPP has topped the Effie Index as the most effective agency holding group globally for the fourth year in a row, as Omnicom's BBDO is named the most effective ad network. The Coca-Cola Company toppled Unilever from the top spot to be named the highest-ranked marketing company. Coca-Cola was also the most effective brand, a title it has now held for three consecutive years.

French media conglomerate Vivendi is looking at a possible acquisition of pay-TV group Sky, as one of several options to expand the reach of its own TV group Canal Plus, three sources familiar with the matter said. Vivendi has turned its attention to Sky after reviewing smaller pay-TV targets in Turkey and other rapidly growing markets in Europe, one of the sources said. Sky has a market value of GBP17.6 billion ($26 billion) but could cost Vivendi as much as GBP28 billion including debt, the sources said.

The YouTube Kids app, available in the U.S., has caused a coalition of consumer and children advocacy groups to urge the Federal Trade Commission to investigate advertising on the app. Dan Smith, director at law firm Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co, told "Marketing Week" that marketers in the UK must ensure clarity when marketing to children. "A fundamental principle of the UK Codes is that advertising should be obviously identifiable -- where the target audience is children, advertisers may need to do even more to make that clear."

Twitter has made it easier to quote tweets without eating into the 140 characters allocated to each tweet in a bid to encourage discourse on the site. The social network made the announcement via a tweet yesterday. The feature has been launched on users' timelines and will be known as the ability to "quote."

Havas Media Group has appointed Andrew Goode to head up its UK programmatic team for its global trading desk Affiperf. Goode, who was previously co-founder and chief operating officer of ad verification specialist Project Sunblock, will manage a team of UK programmatic traders responsible for audience planning and optimisation across a range of clients. Prior to Project Sunblock, he founded Clickbrokers, a digital advertising network specialising in click-based campaigns.

The Marketing Agencies Association has hit out at the pitch practice of AB InBev, as a planned strike by agencies against the beer giant fell through yesterday. The MAA, which in March highlighted what it labelled "despicable" conduct on the behalf of AB InBev, had called on agencies to strike against the company to make a stand against the treatment of suppliers by the business. However, for reasons that were "understandable given their vulnerability," agencies declined to launch the strike, due to start yesterday.

Pret has started a trial for a fine dining evening concept at its Strand-based shop in London, with the chain selling everything from beers to meatballs and changing its service from 6 pm to 11 pm, in a bid to take night trade from bars and restaurants. The menu -- which has several new items including spicy meatballs, chicken and bacon cobb, as well as salt beef sourdough toasties -- will offer alcohol options to bring in the after-work crowd.

Transport for London (TfL) has landed in hot water with the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) after it ruled claims made about reductions in vehicle pollution were misleading. The press ad, which ran in the "Evening Standard," from the Mayor of London, received one complaint from not-for-profit organisation Clear Air in London, which queried the claim that the introduction of a Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in central London "will encourage the use of newer, cleaner vehicles to reduce vehicle pollution by half."